"Sun today announced that Java Platform, Standard Edition 5 is now available for redistribution by GNU/Linux and OpenSolaris operating system distributors under the new Operating System Distributor's License for Java (also known as the 'Distro License for Java' or DLJ). Developed in consultation with, and for use by, the various GNU/Linux communities, the new license allows distributors to ship Sun's Java SE 5.0 Java Development Kit and Java Runtime Environment as installable packages for their operating systems." At the same time, Sun also promised to open-source Java.

Python, Tcl and komodo (from ActiveState.com) do everything better *for me* (and many others), or do the same that Java does with less pain !
And it's cross-platform.
And it's faster than Java.
And it's easier and simpler to maintain.
And you can find other Langs and Framework that are better and more efficient than Java for multi-purpose dev.
It's just that Java has had a lot of ads and hype.

I don't know what kind of work you do with either of those, but they don't compare in any way to Java. Python is a nice scripting language but its in a different league.
I dont know if you noticed but Java is also cross platform and in NO WAY is Pythong or TCL faster than Java.

they don't compare in any way to Java. Python is a nice scripting language but its in a different league.
No way is Python or TCL faster than Java.
Java is also cross platform.

Fast is fast, anywhere.
OK Java is on a different league, there is millions of Dollars backing it up.
(I don't work for Sun or any other company).
Never seen popular aplications made with Java. Seen plenty with other Lang (Red Hat installer is made with Python, other Linux config tools also use it). Python doesn't run on mobile phones like the Java Games do (they finaly found some use for the language
Java has been better on speed lately (2 years) but swing not as much.
I don't want to get in a religious war here.
Regards,
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